The birds and the bees can have canes and wheels : the sexual identity formation of women with visible physical disabilities

Author

Clara J. Miller, Smith College

Publication Date

2015

Document Type

Masters Thesis

Department

School for Social Work

Keywords

Gender identity, Women with disabilities-Psychology, Women with disabilities-Sexual behavior, Quantitative research, Sexual identity, Disability, Physical disability

Abstract

The study descriptively examines the views women with visible physical disabilities have on their sexual identity formation. For the purposes of this study, the term sexual identity is defined as an awareness of one's self as a sexual being. 158 self-identified women with visible physical disabilities answered survey questions about their experiences during their adolescent years. Overall, this study found that women with disabilities face the same difficulties as their abled-bodied peers, but face additional struggles having to do with their disability when forming their sexual identity.

Language

English

Comments

iv, 104 pages : color illustrations. Thesis (M.S.W)--Smith College School for Social Work, 2015. Includes bibliographical references (pages 70-75)

Recommended Citation

Miller, Clara J., "The birds and the bees can have canes and wheels : the sexual identity formation of women with visible physical disabilities" (2015). Masters Thesis, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
https://scholarworks.smith.edu/theses/668